Hello all! As always, I want to go ahead and thank everyone who reviewed, favorited and alerted this story. Or even read it. :) Sorry this chapter's a little short, but it's more of a filler in between action, so yeah. I hope you like it, and as always, I appreciate any feedback you're willing to give me.

I don't own anything, and I highly doubt I ever will.


Clint looked out over the New York City skyline from where he sat perched on the roof of Stark Tower. It had been a few hours since they'd returned from the helicarrier, and since then the sun had set. The rest of the team was one floor below him, relaxing and celebrating their victory, but Clint didn't particularly want to join them.

Now that he had time to think back, he couldn't help mulling over Tony's words, wondering if he actually was a liability to his team. Sure, today he had been fine. He hadn't missed a shot; he'd covered everyone's backs from above just like he'd been expected to. But last night had been a relatively good one. He'd slept, he'd been eating. But if he ever got to the point where he'd been a week ago, he could just as easily kill them as save them.

He stiffened when he heard the elevator doors slid nearly noiselessly open, expecting Natasha to join him. He was surprised when only a few seconds later, someone cleared their throat behind him. Quickly, he pulled his legs up from where they were dangling over the side of the building and turned, keeping the shock off his face when he saw Tony standing somewhat awkwardly behind him.

That in itself was odd. Tony Stark was usually completely at ease in any situation, yet here he was, looking uncomfortable.

Before Clint could say anything, the billionaire spoke up, his voice stiff and rushed.

"Look, do not get used to hearing this from me, because it will never happen again." he started, and Clint raised an eyebrow but listened as the older man continued. "I was wrong. About what I said. You're probably the furthest from a liability of any of us."

The archer gave a surprised blink at that. Not only was Stark admitting he had been wrong, but he was pretty sure that that had been a heavily veiled compliment. Even so, he didn't respond, watching as the billionaire gave a sigh, taking his silence for a belief in his lack of sincerity.

"I'm not just saying this 'cause you saved my ass. Which you did, by the way, no denial there. But that's not the point. The point is that I am thrilled to know that you're at my back, shooting arrows at aliens and mutants and whatever else Fury throws us into. Let's face it, we all have issues, and I get that yours are a little fresh, but we want you on this team, alright?" Tony said, lowering himself to sit cross-legged in front of the archer.

"I am occasionally antisocial." Clint admitted, giving a small smirk as he met the billionaire's gaze, settling himself into a similar position.

"You think? We've barely seen you for the past week and a half. I've practically defined 'antisocial', and you put me to shame." Tony scoffed, relaxing slightly now that the assassin didn't seem hostile. "How are you getting around?"

Clint's smirk widened, one eyebrow rising.

"I bet it's just killing you, isn't it Stark?" he asked knowingly and Tony gave a mocking glare.

"It's perfectly understandable for me to want to know. It's my tower." he said defensively, but Clint just shook his head. "Anyway, you should come join us. Relax a little. Listen to Thor's stories. The guy gets talkative when he drinks apparently. Some of the stuff he's saying is amusing. Then later, I challenge you to that target machine again."

"Really, Stark? After today, you still think a machine can beat me? I don't miss." Clint scoffed but stood, deciding that he had no reason /not/ to join his team. "You already owe me five hundred dollars."

"Double or nothing." Tony offered with his own smirk and Clint rolled his eyes but shrugged.

"Later." he acquiesced, waiting for Stark to stand as well. "You remember when you asked if I was just bitingly sarcastic or I hated you?"

Tony nodded curiously, hopping up to stand beside the archer.

"It's the first one." Clint said easily, and Tony scoffed slightly, his expression almost disbelieving.

"Please, you with a sense of humor? I think Romanoff has a better chance of wearing pink." the billionaire teased, but Clint just raised an eyebrow.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Stark." the assassin reminded lightly, an almost evil grin forming on his face. "Like how I get around the tower for instance."

"You're not hilarious, you're an asshole." Tony remarked, eyes brightening at the challenge of going back and forth with the archer.

"Coming from the Iron Ass himself, that should almost be considered an honor." Clint retorted starting towards the elevator.

"What did you call me, Cupid?" Tony demanded, catching up quickly with narrowed eyes.

"Oh don't tell me it doesn't fit your personality perfectly. A healthy dose of ego, as well as giving people a fair warning of what they're going to be dealing with. I think you should do away with the whole 'Iron Man' thing and stick to Iron Ass." Clint continued, for the moment ignoring the man's insult.

The rest of the team looked up in shock when the elevator doors opened and Clint and Tony engaged in a rapid, occasionally scathing banter. Steve and Bruce looked concerned for a moment, sharing a quick glance, but Steve quickly realized that this wasn't an argument.

Both men were grinning, walking side by side, Clint especially more at ease than they'd seen him before.

"Tell you what, I'll go by Iron Ass when you go by Cupid." Tony said as he plopped down onto a stool behind the bar, Clint taking one between Natasha and Bruce.

"Is that a challenge?" the archer demanded, causing Natasha to snicker into her drink.

"He'll do it, Stark. If for no other reason than to see everyone else call you Iron Ass." the Russian assassin told him matter of factly, and Tony snorted, giving Clint a distrusting look when he quirked an eyebrow.

"You're evil." the billionaire said coolly, which just made Clint's smirk widen.

"I'm glad you've caught on." the younger man said condescendingly, chuckling when Tony gave a huff.

"Alright." Steve said placatingly, holding up a hand to stop them both. "You've both made your points."

"I don't know, this could prove amusing." Natasha commented, scowling with a glare when Clint snagged her drink and took a sip.

"I'm glad we can provide your entertainment, Romanoff." Tony shot back cheekily, before looking to the archer. "What'll you have, Legolas?"

"Got a beer?" Clint questioned, catching the bottle Tony tossed at him from beneath the bar with ease and a nod of thanks.

"Friend Hawk, it does me well to see you have suffered no lasting effects from my brother's actions." Thor spoke up after a moment or two of silence and Clint had popped the top off his beer and taken a small swig.

The archer was well aware of Natasha and Bruce sharing a quick glance at the demi-god's words, but he ignored it, giving him a slight nod.

"I'm fine, Thor, thanks." Clint said easily, tipping his beer bottle to Thor, who returned his nod with a grin. "Steve, how're you doing?"

"Fine, really." the Captain said reassuringly, though Clint could tell he was holding himself stiffly from where he was sitting on his stool.

"Right. Let's just forget the huge claw marks down your side and stomach. No problem." Tony said lightly, taking a sip of his scotch. "Seriously, Rodgers, did those bastards on that tin can even give you pain meds?"

"They wouldn't work." Steve said with a shrug. "It's the way my metabolism changed with the serum. Nothing like that really affects me."

"That sucks." Tony said with a slight wince, mirroring Bruce's expression, while the two assassins gave small frowns and Thor simply tilted his head out of confusion. "So what nothing? Caffeine? Alcohol?"

"Nothing." Steve confirmed with a wry, almost disappointed smirk.

"So that's why you've got that stick up your ass." Tony muttered under his breath, only to jump back about three feet when Clint flicked his bottle cap at the billionaire, and it unerringly struck directly between his eyes. "Hey! Anyway, I propose a new goal: Get the good Captain drunk."

"Tony, I have tried on numerous occasions; hell Howard tried. It's not going to happen." Steve said in exasperation, though he frowned slightly when he saw Tony's eyes darken at the mention of his father, not offering another comment to continue conversation.

After a few moments, Bruce spoke up, his eyes turning to Clint worriedly.

"What about you, Hawkeye? I caught you limping earlier." he said and the archer just gave a slight roll of his eyes.

"It's nothing. A little rope burn, that's all." he said, ignoring Tony's piercing, knowing glance and meeting Natasha's gaze instead. She just narrowed her eyes slightly at him, wordlessly informing him that she would be taking a look at it later to make sure it was actually nothing. He just gave an innocent grin in return, before looking to Thor who was continuing the story he'd been telling when Tony and Clint walked in.


When Tony trudged out of his room the next morning, he almost instantly had to pause and blink a few times, confused.

Something coming from the kitchen smelled amazing. The only problem was that while Steve and Bruce had exhibited limited cooking ability, the only one he thought capable of creating that smelled above simply edible was Pepper. And she was still in the room he had just exited.

Curiously, he walked forward and peered around the kitchen wall, feeling his eyes widen when he saw none other than Hawkeye standing at the stove and having amicable conversation with Steve and Thor while he flipped pancakes to what should have probably been impossible heights. There was already an impressive pile on a plate beside the archer to the right of the stove.

"You can cook?" Tony made his presence known with his question, everyone turning to look at him, including Natasha, who he hadn't noticed before, sitting on the counter on the left.

"Clint can cook." she confirmed with a smirk, ducking around the archer's playful swat as she outed him.

"It's just something I picked up." he looked to Tony with a shrug before flipping the now done pancake in the pan to the stack on the plate expertly. "Hell of a lot better than relying on SHIELD to supply something edible in a safe house."

"That I can understand." Tony said matter of factly, leaning around Natasha to grab the half-full coffee pot and pour himself a cup.

Clint grinned as he glanced to Natasha, seeing her almost hesitant calm in her eyes.

They'd both decided last night that they should at least try to learn to trust their team-mates, relax around them and act more as Clint and Natasha and less like Hawkeye and the Black Widow. After all, if the rest of the superheroes were going to trust them, they should try to do the same. And Clint was never one to do things slowly, his only patience coming when he was watching and waiting for a target.

So, there he was, relaxed and joking while he made pancakes for breakfast.

That wasn't to say it was easy. Far from it. For years he'd only been able to put his trust into two people, and that was Natasha and Phil. Expanding that to include the rest of the Avengers was not going to be something that happened over night, but he was willing to give them a chance and relax.

"How do you do that?" Steve asked, eyes curiously watching as Clint absentmindedly flipped a pancake.

The archer just shrugged.

"Practice." he said dismissively, eyes turning to where Tony was trying to sneak up along-side him to grab a pancake off the stack. "Oh no you don't, Stark. You can wait 'till they're done like everyone else."

"But they smell good." Tony complained, taking a small step back and crossing his arms over his chest. "What'd you put in them? They're not going to kill us, right? Like assassin pancakes?"

Before Clint could respond, Bruce stepped forward, rubbing his eyes with one hand.

"I'm sorry, but if I'm going to wake up to questions about assassin pancakes, I'm going back to bed." he said matter of factly, and Thor gave a booming laugh while Steve and Clint chuckled.

Natasha barely looked amused, and Tony was still suspicious.

"The pancakes aren't going to assassinate anyone, and Tony's being paranoid." Clint explained easily, before looking to the billionaire in question. "It's not my fault that I need to make so many pancakes."

"Oh, so you're pinning the blame for late breakfast on Point Break and Capsicle, huh?" Tony accused, but Clint raised an eyebrow before Thor or Steve could protest the billionaire's words.

"Or your impatience. That one could work." he said lightly and Tony huffed, watching as the archer flipped another pancake onto the towering stack.

"Do you want another plate?" Bruce asked, eyeing the pile suspiciously as he took a stool beside Thor on the other side of the granite island counter.

"Nah." Clint shook his head with a smirk, pouring another glob of batter into the pan.

Another ten minutes passed before Clint offered everyone plates and told them to have at the stack of at least thirty pancakes. Within another three, everyone had grabbed what they wanted and moved to the table with the butter and syrup.

"Alright, I officially nominate Legolas to cook." Tony said with a bright grin after his first bite, everyone digging in with enthusiasm.

Muffled sounds of agreement came from around the table, and Clint snorted but gave a smirk.

"If you're lucky." he told them matter of factly.


Later that day, Steve looked up when he heard someone approach where he had pulled a chair out onto the balcony off the top floor and sat down with his sketch book. Turning, he saw Clint walking up to stand next to him, expression darkened in some emotion the Captain couldn't identify.

"Hey, Cap." the archer greeted tonelessly, and Steve instantly became somewhat concerned.

"Hawkeye. What's wrong?" he asked, confused

"Nothing." Barton blew off his concern quickly, though there was no change to his expression. "Listen, could you answer me something?"

Steve nodded, feeling his concern intensify when the younger man lowered his gaze to ask his question, his voice almost inaudible.

"Could you, ah… tell me where Coulson's buried?"

The Captain's confusion lessened, becoming sympathy instead. They had held Agent Coulson's funeral only two days after the alien invasion and subsequent battle, before Thor had taken Loki back to Asgard. He would admit that he, along with everyone else, had been shocked when Hawkeye had refused to go to the service. Even Natasha hadn't seemed pleased with her partner's actions, but did seem to understand to an extent, telling them only that Coulson had been her and Barton's handler, and that the archer had been working with him since he'd joined SHIELD seven years ago. Ever since, not one of them had mentioned Coulson, and especially not around Barton. It seemed now though that the archer was ready to deal with his handler's death.

"Why didn't you just ask Agent Romanoff?" the Captain asked carefully, knowing that the two agents had gone down to the training gym together after breakfast.

"Because she would have come with me." Barton said, no question in his voice. "And this is just something I have to do alone."

Steve nodded in understanding, flipping to the back of his sketch book and writing down the address of the cemetery before he ripped out the page and handed it to the archer. He knew what it was like to lose people that you had worked closely with in a high-stress environment. And he couldn't blame Hawkeye for his actions and decisions.

"You sure you want to go by yourself?" he asked gently, concern flaring in his eyes again, but Barton just shook his head wordlessly, nodded his thanks for the address before moving back inside and supposedly to the elevator without a sound.

For a few moments, Steve turned his attention back to his sketch, but after no more than a handful of moments he found that his worry for his team-mate's frame of mind wouldn't let him concentrate. Slowly and mindful of his healing injuries, he stood and made his own way back inside, searching out the rest of his team.

Clint audibly heard his breath hitch as he neared the clearly recently placed, polished stone. Even so, he forced himself to continue forward until he finally lowered himself down to sit on the ground diagonal to its left.

For a long time, he just sat in silence staring emotionlessly at the headstone and thinking about his mentor. Coulson had been his handler from the very beginning, had personally pitched SHIELD to him, then just a stubborn eighteen year old kid with authority problems fresh into federal prison for a hit gone sloppy. He'd been working contracts for a year; had made quite a name for himself and had coincidentally found himself on SHIELD's radar. Coulson had considered him a potential asset, and had convinced Fury to give him a chance.

Obviously Clint had been wary at first, having learned the hard way that he couldn't trust anyone, but getting out of prison had appealed to him, as well as Coulson's offer. Having a /reason/ to do what he did that was a hell of a lot better than money. And eventually, he'd learned to trust Coulson. He still considered him the one man he'd ever met that was worth looking up to.

He couldn't shake the almost overwhelming guilt and knowledge that the only reason Phil had had to face a freed Loki in the first place; had died, was because of him. Because he had led the attack on the helicarrier. It was for that reason, the guilt, that he hadn't gone to Phil's funeral in the first place. Now that he'd started to try to forgive himself for what he'd done under Loki's mind control, he felt that this was something he needed to do. He knew that Phil would never have blamed him, and would have shot whoever had suggested that it was his fault.

Clint wasn't sure exactly how much time had passed in complete silence, but eventually he tore his eyes away from the headstone to look over his shoulder when he felt someone approaching behind him. He wasn't sure what to think when he saw the rest of the Avengers silently walking up to him, their eyes drawn to the headstone as well. Part of him was aggravated with Steve for ratting him out. Another part was grateful for the company now that he was here.

Not one of them said a word, Natasha neatly folding herself onto the ground next to him, their sides brushing in a way that just emphasized the fact that she had his back. Only a few seconds later, Tony and Bruce took similar positions on the other side of the grave while Thor stood in front of it, arms crossed over his chest and Steve moved to stand behind Clint, clapping a hand onto the other man's shoulder.

"Were you close?" Tony broke the silence first, not that that fact surprised anyone. Clint just drew his knees up to his chest and laid his arms across them, sucking in a sharp breath.

"He's probably the only person I've ever looked up to." he admitted quietly, eyes moving back to the headstone instinctively. "Only person I've ever taken orders from, that's for sure."

"So that's why he didn't even blink when confronted with my stunning personality. He already had plenty of experience dealing with you." Tony said in a tone that suggested that admission explained everything. "He told me once that if I tried anything with him he'd taze me and watch Supernanny while I drooled on the carpet."

Bruce, Clint and Natasha gave quick snorts of amusement while Thor and Steve just looked lost but kept it to themselves, knowing that it wasn't the right time to bring up their questions.

"He saved me from myself." Clint heard himself admitting, not exactly sure why the words were spilling from his mouth, but not exactly keen to stop them either. "He's the one that got me out of prison; told me I could still manage something good with my life." he practically felt the shocked stares he got from that statement and moved to explain. "I was a contract killer before SHIELD. I screwed one up; got caught."

If any of his team-mates were put off by that revelation they didn't say anything.

"He was a good man." Thor spoke up, his voice deep with the honesty of his words. "Strong and loyal. He would have made a good mentor to any warrior."

They fell silent for a few moments before Clint spoke again, his head shaking slowly.

"When he pitched this whole 'Avengers Initiative' thing at me, I'm not going to lie, I thought he was nuts." the archer told them lightly, an exasperated grin on his face. "Course, that was just after the whole thing in Tokyo, so it might have partially been the pain meds too, but it was a pretty out there idea. I'm sitting there recovering from a bullet wound and he's telling me he wants to put me on a team with Captain-freaking-America, a demi-god from another realm, Iron Man and my partner."

That garnered small laugh out of everyone, while Clint's grin just widened slightly.

"I didn't really get to know him." Bruce admitted from where he sat beside Tony.

"Neither did I." Steve actually sounded guilty with that statement and Clint turned his head to look up at the super soldier.

"I bet he totally had a fan-girl moment when he met you." the archer predicted and Steve gave a sheepish grin.

"He was… enthusiastic." he said, which just made Tony chuckle and Natasha roll her eyes.

"What about you, Romanoff? Any stories you'd like to share?" the billionaire questioned and Natasha shifted almost uncomfortably before responding.

"Phil was the first one to back Clint's call not to kill me." she shared, her eyes darkening slightly. "He was the only one to never question my motives. I never was quite as close to him as Clint was, but I trusted him with my life."

No one responded to that for a while until Steve spoke up, his words directed at Clint.

"I know you said you wanted to come alone… but I just wanted you to know that you weren't alone in grieving for him. We all are. We may not have had the deep friendship you did with him, but we all mourned." the Captain said quietly, his voice knowing.

Clint turned his head back to look at him again, nodding his understanding and acceptance.

"Thanks." he said truthfully and Steve gave him a small smile, tightening his hand on the archer's shoulder for a moment before letting it slid off as Bruce slowly stood.

"We'll give you a minute. We'll be waiting when you're ready." he said, and Clint noticed that no one protested as the doctor spoke for all of them, but instead moved to follow.

Except for Natasha, who stayed unmoving at his side. Once the two assassins were alone, she spoke.

"This is what he wanted for you." she reminded gently and Clint let out a long breath and nodded, rocking to his feet as well and moving to lightly run his hand across the top of the headstone.

"I know." he said simply, before returning to her side, seeing as she had stood as well, and walking back towards where the rest of the Avengers were waiting by the gate.

He couldn't help smiling at the sight and giving his head a slight shake out of almost exasperated amusement.

"Dinner, my treat." Tony announced when the two assassins had caught back up with the group.

"I think at this point everything's your treat, Stark." Clint pointed out with a smirk. "We've been living in your place and eating your food for about a while now."

"Legolas has a point. He's buying." Tony corrected, but the archer's expression didn't darken.

"Only if I can pick." he agreed, and Tony laughed.

"You just honestly agreed to buy for this group? Alright, man, where to."

They ended up in a little restaurant that Tony was vaguely able to recognize as Asian in some variety. In the end, it was only Clint, Natasha and Bruce that were able to actually consume anything substantial from the menu. Even Thor was somewhat put off by the extreme spiciness.

"How do you eat this volcano?" Tony had gasped after only half a bite, his eyes watering.

"I've travelled a lot." Clint shrugged, easily eating what was in his bowl. "I like picking up different cuisines when I'm in a new city."

"Yours is a little spicier." Natasha commented offhandedly, and Clint gave a slight nod, looking down into his bowl with a critical eye.

"Sweet Jesus." Tony muttered, pushing his bowl away from him slightly and draining his cup of water in a few huge gulps.

Steve was trying to be a bit more polite about it, but even he seemed alarmed.

"There seem to be many styles of food on Midgard." Thor said carefully, still examining his dish almost warily.

Clint gave a smirk and a nod, continuing his meal and conversing lightly with Bruce, who seemed completely at ease as well. Then again, the doctor had spent a lot of time moving from place to place as well, and had most recently spent time in India and other parts of Asia, so he didn't find that to be surprising.

"Barton, just so you know, this was a horrible way to prove a point." Tony muttered, but it only earned him a smug smirk from the archer in question.


There you have it. Tell me what you think, and the new chapter will be along shortly. Just some back story to what I imagine was a very strong friendship between Clint and Coulson in this chapter.
~Dogstar